Frame for panels



Dec. 3, 1963 R. M. WINNAN 3,112,534

FRAME FOR PANELS Filed March 6, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fla. 5.

INVENTOR R. M. WINNAN FRAME FOR PANELS Dec. 3, 1963 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1961 M NTOR R.M. WINNAN Dec. 3, 1963 R. M. WINNAN 3,112,534

FRAME FOR PANELS Filed March 6, 1961 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5. F

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United States Patent 3,112,534 FRAME FGR PANELS Russell Iv. Winnan, Miami, Fla, assignor to American Screen Products Company, Qhatsworth, iii, a corporatien of Florida Filed Mar. 6, i961, Ser. No. 93,685 4 (IF-aims. (Q5. 20-56) This invention relates to a tubular shape for use in framing panels for interior or exterior use such as doors, windows, partitions, room dividers, curtain walls, facades, display boards, railirn enclosures, blinds, portable room enclosures, privacy screens, and the lire.

it has long been the custom to make hollow frames for insect screen used in building openings, but with the increasing use of panels in various types of building structures, it is desirable to provide a standardized tubular shape which may be readily made from appropriate stock, such for example as aluminum, steel, plastic material, or any metallic or non-metallic material, which will lend itself to encompassing a sheet of screen mesh, plasticfilm, glass, hardboard, plywood, rigid plastics, any rigid or flexible sheet materials, or combination of both and at the same time readily compensate for the different thicknesses in the edge portions of panels of different thicknesses.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a standardized frame cross-section having special structural features to admit of utilizing a special panel locking spline which will convenientlly grip or hold panels of a range, for example, of .095 thickness to .291 thickness to receive metal, glass, plastic, hardboard, plywood or any rigid sheet materials on the order, for example, of 50-" thickness or in the case of architectural applications, 1.500 thickness. Thus, it is the purpose or" the present invention to provide a series of frame sections having common essential characteristics and all of which may be mass produced in a standard tubular shape and readily used to receive panels of different thickness. In that connection the tubing section and special spline lend themselves to incorporation into a grid or for receiving panels of the same or different type and size.

Another and important object is to provide a frame forming section with a slot of fixed transverse width to receive the aforesaid panels of variable thickness, and a novel spline which regardless of panel thicl ess, not only automatically locks the panel in place but has the capacity for automatic transverse adjustment to neatly close the slot to compensate for said panels of different thickness. Moreover, the present construction may receive a flexible type material with the ability to pull cloth taut when spline is forced into receiving channel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubular frame section made by rolling, drawing, or extrusion methods. In any event, the section includes outer, top, bottom and side walls, the top wall adiacent one edge of the slot, being formed to provide a substantially horizontally disposed locking or keeper shoulder adjacent the mouth of the slot to engage the edge of a spring locking arm of the spline. In addition the section includes a first internal spline guiding wall leading inwardly and downwardly from the keeper shoulder, a bottom wall for 3,1 H534 Patented Dec. 3, 1963 2 the slot, and a second internal panel abutting wall which cooperates with the edge of the keeper shoulder to form a slot of fixed width.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spline having a resilient locking arm which engages behind the locking shoulder at the mouth of the slot, the said arm carried by a vertical wall having a resilient top slot-covering flange which automatically adjusts itself laterally and vertically depending upon the thickness of the panel, to close the slot. The folded junction of the arm and its vertical wall cooperate with the first internal wall to assure proper seating in the section to prevent cocking of the spline when it is inserted in the slot.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and pr ctical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a corner portion of a frame including two angularly disposed sides.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional perspective view of one form of the tubular frame forming section such as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the keeper shoulder is formed integrally with a part of the top wall and a first internal wall, the opposite or second panel abutment wall being connected with its related outer wall by crimping.

FIGURE 2 is a detail cross-section, taken in a direction opposite to the similar section of FIG. 1, showing the possible position of the spline in dotted lines as it appears when first forced in place, and before returning to the full line position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the special spline.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating how the tubing may be assembled into an appropriate frame or grid section.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example of an assembled grid system.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a detail cross-sectional view of a modified form of tubing, wherein, the keeper shoulder is formed at the crimped meeting edges of the top and a first internal wall as distinguished from the keeper shoulder being formed integrally with the second internal wall which is the panel abutment wall.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the new tubular frame shape and spline as it appears when using a flexible panel.

FIGURE 9 is a view like flexible and rigid panels.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to PEG. 8 illustrating why the lower end of the first internal wall is closer to the second internal panel abutting wall than the distance between opposite edges of the slot.

FIGURE 11 is a detail cross-section of an extruded section and a modified form of spline.

FIGURE 12 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of the spline of FIG. 11.

FIG. 8 showing the use of FIGURES l3, l4 and 15 are cross-sectional views of other forms of extruded tubular shapes for use with the spline of FIG. 12.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to the frame designated generally as A, shown in FIGURES 1-6, it will be observed that it includes panel embracing tubular frame sections, disposed rectangularly, for example, and all formed from the same stock. Therefore, each cross-sectional shape includes first and second top wall portions 1 and 2, respectively, spaced to provide a slot C for receiving the panel B of any of the types heretofore mentioned.

In addition to the top walls I and 2, it will be seen that each frame section includes the outer side walls 3 and 4 and the bottom wall 5.

The panel receiving slot C of FIGS. 1-6 is preferably completed by continuing the second top wall 2 so that a portion thereof is bent upon itself as indicated at 6 to provide a continuous locking shoulder 7 facing the bottom wall 5. As the top wall 2 continues from the shoulder 7, it forms a first internal wall including an inclined or oblique portion 8 which terminates in a vertical wall portion 8 connecting with a horizontal web 9 joined with a second internal panel abutment wall 1%. The space between wall portion 8 and wall It) is less than the distance between the edges of the slot C as will be clear from FIGS. 7-10 inclusive. FIG. 10 shows why the first wall is not parallel with the second wall, the dotted lines representing the undesirable effects eliminated by the solid lines.

The upper edge 11 of the panel abutment wall is rolled over to embrace the lip 12 of the first top wall and thereby form a complete rigid frame.

Using FIGURE 1 as an example, it will be observed that the panel B, regardless of the material of which it is formed, has its edge portion B entering the slot C so that when the panel is embraced on all sides by a related frame part, it becomes completely framed for use as an individual framed panel to be used as a screen for windows, doors and the like, as heretofore set forth, or, if solid panels are used, to provide a modesty panel, individually supported in any appropriate manner, or supported in a frame grid work, as shown in FIGURE to provide a curtain wall or room space divider.

The mouth of the slot C is, of course, wider than the thickness of the edge portion B of the panel, and, in order to clamp the panel B in place, it is desired to provide the spline S as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. This spline includes a vertical body wall 13 having a slotclosing top flange 14 formed with a lip 15, and a spring locking arm 16 whose upper edge 17 is intended to engage behind and abut with the locking shoulder 7 of the frame A.

As the edge of the panel B is placed in the slot C, the bottom or inner edge 13 of the spline S takes the lead in entering the slot C. Due to the formation of the spring locking arm 16, it will now be apparent that as the spline moves to final position in which its angular or horizontal flange 14 covers the slot, and its wall 13 engages the related portion of the panel, the edge 17 will snap behind the shoulder 7 of the frame and lock the spline in place.

If the panel has its marginal portion B thicker or thinner than that shown in FIGURE 1, it will make no difference in the insertion of the spline into the slot C because the flange 1 2 will simply move different distances relative to the inner edge of the side wall 4. Moreover, the spline will be locked firmly in the groove and the spring arm 16 will maintain the wall 13 engaged with the related face of the panel firmly to hold the latter in the frame. Also, it may be noted that when the folded edge 13 of the spline is in place, it is located next to the lower edge portion of wall 8 so that pressure on the panel in a plane parallel to the first top wall 1 will not dislodge it from the slot C and, moreover, the floating slot-covering flange 14 will simply slide on second top wall 2. The upward or outward spring action of slot covering flange 14 forces the upper edge 17 of spring locking arm 1% into the corner of the shoulder 7 and wall 8 by a vertical upward action.

Moreover, it will also be seen that the surface? is in vertical alignment with the keeper edge of the slot C and is so spaced horizontally as to prevent the spline from pivoting so that the corner 14 cannot be forced below the level of the keeper shoulder 7 (FIG. 10), which would cause it to bind against the paneling material and thereby tend to prevent it from returning to normal position especially where thin gauge paneling material is used.

When a paneling material near maximum thickness is used, this vertical surface 8 also reduces the lateral movement of the paneling material when pressure is applied parallel to said paneling material on the side opposite the spline holding the panel, thus, assuring that the panel will be held securely in place.

In FIGS. 1-6, the slot C is formed between the edge of the keeper shoulder 7 and the panel abutment wall 10, whose upper edge 11 is rolled over the lip 12.

However, in FIG. 7 the arrangement of FIGS. 1-6 is reversed. That is to say, the first top wall 1 is bent upon itself as indicated at a to provide the keeper shoulder '7 and to also embrace the upper edge portion 1 of the first internal wall which includes the oblique portion 8' and vertical portion 8 which connects with the horizontal wall 9 which forms the bottom of the slot C. The panel abutting wall 10* extends vertically upward and is integral with the second top wall 2 In this arrangement the wall 8 is also in vertical alignment with the edge of keeper shoulder '7.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings show the same form of tubular cross-sectional shape and the same form of spline as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6.

FIGURE 8 is intended to show how thin paneling material B such as a fabric, can be clamped between the wall 13 of the spline and the wall It} of the frame. When a thin and fiexble type of panel B is used, it will be seen that the spline S pushes the edge of the material into the slot and that the end 17 of the arm 16 holds the material engaged with the, crotch of keeper shoulder 7. That part of the material which then projects beyond the end of the spline may then be removed by drawing a sharp knife along the edge of the spline.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the use of a combination form of panel, namely a rigid member B and a flexible member B, like that shown in FIGURE 8, for example. The purpose of this view is to illustrate how rigid and flexible paneling material can be readily put together to make a complete panel held in place by the simple act of forcing the spline S into the slot C.

FIGURE 10, as indicated in the description of figures, shows by dotted lines how the spline could be cocked if the bottom of the slot were not made of substantially the same width as the mouth of the slot C. For example, if the wall 8 of FIGURE 10 was made parallel with wall 10, the spline S, as in dotted lines, would assume the undesirable cocked position, wherein the corner 14 would bind on the panel material.

FIGURE 11 illustrates an extruded form of cross sectional tubular shape which includes the first top wall 1 which is part of a side wall 3 andhas the inner panel abutting wall portions I6 The wall 3 connects with a bottom wall 5 which in turn joins the side wall 4 having the top wall 2 formed with a keeper shoulder 7 It will also be seen that the wall 4 has the internal wall i which in connection with its opposite counterpart 10 makes the inner end of the slot C equal to the distance between I and It).

The keeper shoulder 7' is intended to cooperate with a modified form of spline S which is also shown in perspective detail in FIGURE 12. This spline S is formed with the opposite yielding wing portions 13 and 14 joined by a keeper portion 17 in the form of a groove which engages the keeper shoulder 'i as shown in full lines in FIGURE 11 and is intended to close the mouth of the slot C It will thus be understood that the wings 13 and 14 have the edge portions 13 and 14 for engaging the panel B As will be apparent from FIG. 11, the panel B which may be or" the composite type as shown by dotted lines, is firmly and resiliently pressed against the surface lltl which constitute the paneling engaging wall portions of the sections.

The type of spline 8' shown in FEGS. 11 and 12 is reversible edge for edge and may be readily sprung into place as indicated by the full and dotted lines in MG. 11. This type of spline can be used with the frame section of FIGS. 1-10 or those shown in FIGS. 11 and 13-15.

FIGURE 13 illustrates an extruded crosssectional shape corresponding generally to FIG. 7. That is to say, the tubular extruded shape includes a first top wall I an outer side wall 3, a bottom Jall 5 and another side wall 4 whose top wall 2 joins with the panel engaging wall ll) which lies opposite the keeper shoulder 7 and the inclined wall 8 which in turn becomes the part of the wall 8 The wall S is in substantial alignment with the outer portion of the keeper shoulder 7 which forms the slot C FEGURE 14 is another example of an extruded crosssectional shape including the first top wall l side wall 3 opposite side wall 4 and bottom wall 5 The sec nd top wall 2 is provided with a panel engaging portion lil which is aligned with panel engaging portion 19 carried by the bottom wall 5 Also it will be noted that the bottom wall 5 is provided with a spline directing wall 3 which is in substantial alignment with the keeper shoulder 7 performing the same function as it does in FIGS. 1l2 for locking either the spline S or S in place.

FIGURE is a cross sectional view of a further extmded form of cross-sectional shape corresponding generally to FIGS. 1-10 inclusive. As shown, this section includes a top wall 1 a second top wall 2 opposite side walls 3* and 4 and a bottom wall 5 The slot C is defined by panel-engag ng wall ltlh aligned with a similar wall ltl adjacent the bottom 5 The keeper shoulder 7 is adjacent internal wall 8 which in turn is disposed above the upstanding wall 8 which is ali ned with the keeper shoulder 7 Either the spline S or S may be interlocked wth the shoulder 7 to hold the material in place.

The cross-sectional frame shape A of FIGS. 1-10 may be conveniently illustrated as an example of the manner of arranging sections so that they may be assembled in grid formation. That is to say, by connecting a plurality of identical preformed vertically and horizontally disposed channel members 19 as shown in FIGURE 4, the frame panels A may be assembled in the desired pattern. As will be apparent from FIG. 4, the channel members 19 each include a transverse web w having a medial rib 2t) projecting from the exposed face thereof, thereby to provide individual frame receiving seats at opposite edges of tie rib. The web is formed with offset sides 22 which angle inwardly to provide the attaching flanges 23, intended to receive securing bolts 24 as illustrated in FlGURE 6.

When it is desired to make the tubular frame elements into a grid system with a multiplicity of panels as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the following steps will be followed: the U clips 25 are properly located and attached to the wall W by washers 26 and bolts 27; the vertical members 19 of correct length are then attached to clips 25 on the wall; other clips 25 are then attached to sides of vertical members 19 at the proper location for horizontal members 19; these horizontal members 13 are then fitted over to side clips 25 and are bolted or spot welded in place at 26 (FIG. 4) forming seats 21.

It will thus be understood that after erection of the grid system as shown by FIGURE 4, the individually framed sections A may be fitted in seats 21.

With further reference to FIGURE 6, it will be noted that the flanges 23 are bolted as at 2-?- to the opposite legs or" the Ushaped clip 25 which as previously explained, is secured to the building proper. The purpose in using the open end clips is to provide access to the fastenings 27 in the area 2-6 of the wall W.

Once the grid system is erected, the individually framed panels may be arranged in place as shown in FIGURE 5. In order to complete this assembly, the rib 2% has spring clips 28 secured thereto at spaced intervals by fastenings 29. These clips have marginal anchoring flanges 35) engaged by the complementary spring flanges 31 of a snap-0n cover strip 32, which, of course, may be vertically or horizontally disposed in the grid.

it will now be seen that the present frame stnucture lends itself to incorporation in a grid system whether the grid includes any of the materials heretofore mentioned and enables the building contractor to erect the completed panels :with great facility.

I claim:

1. -A framing element for forming the edge of panels and the like, comprising, in combination, a tubular frame section having outer side and bottom walls and first and second top walls spaced to provide a slot of a width to receive panel material ranging from minimum to maximum thickness within a given range, a keeper shoulder at one edge of the slot, and formed by doubling the first top wall upon itself, and an internal wall extending inwardly from the crotch or" the k eper shoulder at an angle and joining with a vertical wall substantially aligned with the edge of the slot to form one wall of said slot, a horizontal wall connected to said vertical wall forming the bottom of the slot, and a vertical panel abutting wall spaced from and extending upwardly from said bottom wall to form the other side of the slot.

2. A framing element for forming the edge of panels and the like, comprising, in combination, a tubular frame section having outer side and bottom walls and first and second top walls spaced to provide a slot of a width to receive panel material ranging from minimum to maximum thickness within a given range, a keeper shoulder at one edge of the slot, and formed by doubling the first top wall upon itself, and an internal wall extending inwardly from the crotch of the keeper shoulder at an angle and joining with a vertical wall substantially aligned with the edge of the slot to form one wall of said slot, a horizontal wall connected to said vertical wall forming the bottom of the slot, and a vertical panel abutting wall spaced from and extending upwardly from said bottom wall of the slot to form the other side of the slot, said vertical panel abutting wall having its upper edge turned over a lip on the second top wall and secured thereto.

3. A framing element for framing the edge of panels and the like comprising a tubular frame section having outer side and bottom Walls and first and second top walls spaced to provide a slot of a width to receive panel material ranging from a minimum to a maximum thickness within a given range, a keeper shoulder at one edge of the slot, an internal wall extending inwardly from the crotch of the eeper shoulder at an angle and joining with a vertical wall substantially aligned with the edge of the slot to form one wall of said slot, a horizontal wall connected to said vertical wall forming the bottom of the slot, a vert-ical panel abutting wall spaced from and extending upwardly from said bottom wall to form the other side of the slot, and a resilient spline including a panel engaging wall forengaging the side of a panel opposite the side of a panel engaged by the panel abutting wall of said frame section, said panel engaging wall having a lower end disposed adiacent the bottom of said slot, a spring arm having one end connected to said end of the panel engaging wall and extending upwardly at an angle to said panel engaging wall and towards said keeper shoulder edge or" 7 said slot for interlocking engagement with said keeper edge to hold said spline in said slot, and a top flange carried by said panel engaging Wall for closing the gap between a face of a panel in said slot and the keeper edge of the slot.

4. A frame for panels comprising panel embracing frame sections, each section including outer side and bottom walls and first and second top Walls spaced to provide a slot of a Width to receive panel material ranging from a minimum to a maximum thickness within a given range, a keeper shoulder at one edge of the slot, an internal Wall extending inwardly from the crotch of the keeper shoulder at an angle and joining with a vertical wall substantially aligned with the edge of the slot to form one wall of said slot, a horizontal Wall connected to said vertical wall forming the bottom of the slot, a vertical panel abutting wall spaced from and extending upwardly from said bottom Wall to form the other side of the slot, and a resilient spline having a portion for interlocking engage- 8 ment with said keeper edge to hold it in the slot and also having a flange for yieldably engaging a panel and for closing the gap between a face of the panel disposed in the slot and the keeper edge of the slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,806 Hartbauer Mar. 7, 1911 1,223,669 Peters Apr. 24, 1917 1,301,896 Baxter Apr. 29, 1919 2,505,553 Krantz Apr. 25, 1950 2,714,432 Blanchard Aug. 2, 1955 2,803,321 Williams Aug. 20, 1957 2,807,339 Wagner Sept. 24, 1957 2,901,785 Hinohliffe et a1 Sept. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS I 577,482 Italy May 31, 1958 

1. A FRAMING ELEMENT FOR FORMING THE EDGE OF PANELS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A TUBULAR FRAME SECTION HAVING OUTER SIDE AND BOTTOM WALLS AND FIRST AND SECOND TOP WALLS SPACED TO PROVIDE A SLOT OF A WIDTH TO RECEIVE PANEL MATERIAL RANGING FROM MINIMUM TO MAXIMUM THICKNESS WITHIN A GIVEN RANGE, A KEEPER SHOULDER AT ONE EDGE OF THE SLOT, AND FORMED BY DOUBLING THE FIRST TOP WALL UPON ITSELF, AND AN INTERNAL WALL EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE CROTCH OF THE KEEPER SHOULDER AT AN ANGLE AND JOINING WITH A VERTICAL WALL SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE EDGE OF THE SLOT TO FORM ONE WALL OF SAID SLOT, A HORIZONTAL WALL CONNECTED TO SAID VERTICAL WALL FORMING THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOT, AND A VERTICAL PANEL ABUTTING WALL SPACED FROM AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL TO FORM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SLOT. 